Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between the United States and Pakistan

Name: Pakistan
Address: PK

For one person, living is cheaper in Pakistan: $483 a month against $2,734 in the United States, rent and utilities included – about $27,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

131

Cost of Living Index in the United States
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United States Living Index
23

Cost of Living Index in Pakistan
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Pakistan Living Index

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🇺🇸 United States

$2,734

/mo nomad

🇵🇰 Pakistan

$483

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in the United States and in Pakistan

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in the United States and in Pakistan actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,734 in the United States versus $483 in Pakistan.

United States $2,734
Pakistan $483

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,985 in the United States versus $736 in Pakistan.

United States $3,985
Pakistan $736

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,235 in the United States versus $988 in Pakistan.

United States $5,235
Pakistan $988

Internal cost variation is higher in the United States: monthly costs span $979 to $5,160, compared to $291–$607 in Pakistan. City choice carries more weight in the United States.

Living in the United States is roughly 466% more expensive than in Pakistan on average.

The United States (101% above) and Pakistan (65% below) straddle the global median.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.03 $20.03

$2.11 PKR 583

849.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.0 $80.0

$13.97 PKR 3,866

472.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.80 $11.80

$5.50 PKR 1,523

114.55%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.22 PKR 615

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.31 PKR 1,193

Cappuccino

$5.55 $5.55

$1.97 PKR 546

181.73%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.66 $2.66

$0.38 PKR 105

600.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$0.23 PKR 63.6

843.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.12 $6.12

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.94 $7.94

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.87 PKR 240

19.54%

White Bread (500g)

$3.59 $3.59

$0.60 PKR 165

498.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.52 $4.52

$1.21 PKR 335

273.55%

Eggs

$4.28 $4.28

$1.21 PKR 334

253.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.22 $13.22

$5.42 PKR 1,500

143.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.60 $12.60

$2.83 PKR 783

345.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.60 $17.60

$5.06 PKR 1,400

247.83%

Apples (1kg)

$5.30 $5.30

$1.20 PKR 331

341.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 $1.69

$0.64 PKR 176

164.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.44 $4.44

$0.87 PKR 241

410.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.77 $4.77

$0.54 PKR 149

783.33%

Potato (1kg)

$2.97 $2.97

$0.33 PKR 91.8

800.00%

Onion (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$0.39 PKR 108

707.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.20 $2.20

$0.37 PKR 104

494.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$0.41 PKR 113

473.17%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.08 PKR 575

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 PKR 296

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 PKR 652

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.98 $10.98

$2.14 PKR 593

413.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.05 $15.05

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.06 $2.06

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 $3.79

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.94 $1.94

$0.20 PKR 55.0

870.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$59.4 $59.4

$10.01 PKR 2,768

493.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.58 $3.58

$0.88 PKR 243

306.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.88 $1.88

$0.56 PKR 155

235.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.84 $29.84

$2.22 PKR 614

1244.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.29 PKR 357

-20.93%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$28.8K $28.8K

$17.8K PKR 4.9M

61.80%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.2K $26.2K

$24.3K PKR 6.7M

7.66%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$218 $218

$110 PKR 30.5K

97.62%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$62.5 $62.5

$5.41 PKR 1,496

1054.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.5 $74.5

$15.79 PKR 4,368

371.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.86 $41.86

$18.50 PKR 5,118

126.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.81 $22.81

$11.09 PKR 3,067

105.68%

Cinema Ticket

$14.70 $14.70

$4.32 PKR 1,195

240.28%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,489 $1,489

$56.4 PKR 15.6K

2542.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.3K $25.3K

$1,511 PKR 418.1K

1570.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 $54.3

$17.56 PKR 4,859

209.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.71 $42.71

$23.58 PKR 6,522

81.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 $94.1

$76.7 PKR 21.2K

22.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 $114

$35.08 PKR 9,705

223.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,659 $1,659

$150 PKR 41.5K

1006.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,348 $1,348

$87.4 PKR 24.2K

1442.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,682 $2,682

$320 PKR 88.6K

737.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,169 $2,169

$190 PKR 52.5K

1041.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,283 $3,283

$970 PKR 268.4K

238.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,482 $2,482

$520 PKR 144.0K

376.84%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,296 $4,296

$192 PKR 53.2K

2136.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.55

14.1

-53.55%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for the United States: October 25, 2026

Last update for Pakistan: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

United States

$1.3K 49.3%

Pakistan

$87 18.1% 93.5% $1.3K

Groceries & Markets

United States

$415 15.2%

Pakistan

$94 19.5% 77.4% $321

Monthly Utilities & Internet

United States

$355 13%

Pakistan

$131 27.2% 63% $223

Eating Out

United States

$328 12%

Pakistan

$59 12.3% 81.9% $269

Clothing & Footwear

United States

$137 5%

Pakistan

$69 14.3% 49.8% $68

Getting Around

United States

$80 2.9%

Pakistan

$14 3% 81.9% $66

Sport & Entertainment

United States

$71 2.6%

Pakistan

$27 5.6% 61.9% $44

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $1,620 in the United States, $137 in Pakistan. Capital cities: $2,768 in Washington, DC vs $261 in Islamabad.

National salary averages: $4,549 in the United States, $185 in Pakistan. Higher pay doesn’t always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 1082% higher in the United States.

Dining out costs 477% more in the United States.

Public transport is 530% more expensive in the United States.

Salaries are about 25 times higher in the United States, and purchasing power comes out stronger in the United States.

Good to know

🇺🇸 United States

🇵🇰 Pakistan

🕒 Local time

14:12 2:12 PM

00:12 12:12 AM

10 h ahead of the United States

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

340,110,988

223,773,700

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

Pakistani Rupee PKR ₨

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.896 EUR

1,000 PKR = 3.61 USD

1,000 PKR = 3.24 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

PKR, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

🇵🇰 Pakistani Rupee (₨)

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.896 EUR).

Pakistani Rupee exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 277 PKR (1,000 PKR = 3.61 USD). 1 EUR = 309 PKR (1,000 PKR = 3.24 EUR).

PKR to USD in detail →

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Between locations

United States Pakistan 12,040 km ≈ 16 h nonstop flight

From you

United States
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Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

United States vs Pakistan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

At $483 per month in Pakistan and $2,734 in the United States, Pakistan comes out about 82% cheaper. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.

Day-to-day life is cheaper in Pakistan: lower grocery prices, cheaper commutes, and more affordable meals out. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.

Rent for a central one-bedroom averages $1,620 in the United States and $137 in Pakistan. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.

It depends on what you’re after: Pakistan wins on affordability, while salaries, visas, language, and lifestyle can tip the balance either way.